Rod Perry

Receiver Rod Perry Jr., one of USC's most prized freshmen, will miss the season because he needs a second surgery on his right knee. "This is about as disappointed as I've ever been," said Perry, who had surgery as a junior at Santa Ana Mater Dei High school after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament but re-injured the knee during USC's fall practice. "I tried to ignore it and play through it . . .

Rod Perry Jr., who gave up football at USC after knee surgery, has quit the Cal State Fullerton baseball team and plans to resume his college football career next season. "It comes down to the fact that I genuinely miss football," Perry said Wednesday. "I've realized that not playing football isn't a good choice for me." Perry, a former California high school player of the year for Mater Dei, said he has not decided where he will transfer.

By following both his leader and his heart, Rod Perry is a Ram again. Sometimes making career choices in the NFL can be painful. Sometimes those decisions, such as the one Perry made to leave Seattle with Coach Chuck Knox, come naturally. Return home. Stay with your mentor. Take over what probably is the most talented part of a not-very-talented Ram team. It should always be so simple. This is where Perry started as a player 17 years ago, drafted in the fourth round by then-coach Knox.

Sometimes you can be too talented. Sometimes when you can outrun the wind, be in the right place at the right time to have a football drop softly into your hands, it is just too much. Sometimes, when your legs can cover more grass in the outfield than a tarp and when your arm makes that throw from center to home look as easy as playing catch in the driveway, it makes life too hard.

Rod Perry, a standout wide receiver and defensive back at Mater Dei High, has made an oral commitment to attend USC, Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said Sunday. Perry, son of Rod Perry Sr., the former Ram defensive back who is now an assistant coach with the Houston Oilers, has caught 47 passes for 858 yards this season. He also has scored nine touchdowns and intercepted four passes.

Rod Perry, Ram secondary coach, has received permission to talk with the Houston Oilers, an indication that the team might be prepared to dismiss Chuck Knox as coach. Perry has one year remaining on his contract, but Ram President John Shaw granted Houston's request unbeknown to Knox, who could not be reached on a fishing trip to Mexico. Shaw declined to discuss Knox's status other than to say he remains coach and that he has had no contact with anyone regarding Knox's position.

They all thought they had the answer. All those pumped up opposing defensive backs believed they could stop Rod Perry Jr. The names and faces changed each week, but the outlook didn't--or the attitude. Every defensive back Perry encountered was going to be the guy to shut him down, or so they said. So confident were Mater Dei's opponents, they usually covered Perry with only one defensive back. Don't these guys watch film?

The transfer of outfielder Rod Perry Jr. from USC to Cal State Fullerton has been approved, and the Titan baseball program has also added first baseman Aaron Rifkin from Chapman. "We've received the release from USC, so Rod is all set with us," Titan assistant coach Dave Serrano said Thursday. "We think he'll be a fine addition to our program. "He's an excellent athlete, and it should be exciting with him just concentrating on baseball.

Rod Perry Jr., who gave up football at USC after knee surgery, has quit the Cal State Fullerton baseball team and plans to resume his college football career next season. "It comes down to the fact that I genuinely miss football," Perry said Wednesday. "I've realized that not playing football isn't a good choice for me." Perry, a former California high school player of the year for Mater Dei, said he has not decided where he will transfer.

Minnesota Viking receivers coach Jerry Rhome and Ram defensive backs coach Rod Perry were hired as offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Houston Oilers. Rhome, 52, coached this season with the Vikings, after four seasons as offensive coordinator of the Phoenix Cardinals. Perry, 41, spent six years as defensive backs coach for the Rams and Seattle Seahawks. Perry's son, Rod, was an all-county receiver in 1994 as a sophomore at Mater Dei.

The transfer of outfielder Rod Perry Jr. from USC to Cal State Fullerton has been approved, and the Titan baseball program has also added first baseman Aaron Rifkin from Chapman. "We've received the release from USC, so Rod is all set with us," Titan assistant coach Dave Serrano said Thursday. "We think he'll be a fine addition to our program. "He's an excellent athlete, and it should be exciting with him just concentrating on baseball.

The scar begins on Rod Perry Jr.'s left kneecap and continues down about six inches. That's his good knee. The surgeons removed part of his left patellar tendon in September and put it in his right knee to replace his practically nonexistent anterior cruciate ligament. As a result, the closest Perry gets to a football field on Saturdays this fall is the sidelines of the Coliseum for USC home games.

Receiver Rod Perry Jr., one of USC's most prized freshmen, will miss the season because he needs a second surgery on his right knee. "This is about as disappointed as I've ever been," said Perry, who had surgery as a junior at Santa Ana Mater Dei High school after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament but re-injured the knee during USC's fall practice. "I tried to ignore it and play through it . . .

When watching a young athlete perform at peak level two thoughts always cross your mind. This may be the best he or she will ever be. Or he or she is ready to move on to bigger challenges. After watching Mater Dei's Rod Perry Jr. single-handedly destroy four playoff teams in helping Mater Dei win its second Division I football championship in the last three years, I believe he is in the latter category.

They all thought they had the answer. All those pumped up opposing defensive backs believed they could stop Rod Perry Jr. The names and faces changed each week, but the outlook didn't--or the attitude. Every defensive back Perry encountered was going to be the guy to shut him down, or so they said. So confident were Mater Dei's opponents, they usually covered Perry with only one defensive back. Don't these guys watch film?

Rod Perry, a standout wide receiver and defensive back at Mater Dei High, has made an oral commitment to attend USC, Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said Sunday. Perry, son of Rod Perry Sr., the former Ram defensive back who is now an assistant coach with the Houston Oilers, has caught 47 passes for 858 yards this season. He also has scored nine touchdowns and intercepted four passes.

When watching a young athlete perform at peak level two thoughts always cross your mind. This may be the best he or she will ever be. Or he or she is ready to move on to bigger challenges. After watching Mater Dei's Rod Perry Jr. single-handedly destroy four playoff teams in helping Mater Dei win its second Division I football championship in the last three years, I believe he is in the latter category.

Minnesota Viking receivers coach Jerry Rhome and Ram defensive backs coach Rod Perry were hired as offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Houston Oilers. Rhome, 52, coached this season with the Vikings, after four seasons as offensive coordinator of the Phoenix Cardinals. Perry, 41, spent six years as defensive backs coach for the Rams and Seattle Seahawks. Perry's son, Rod, was an all-county receiver in 1994 as a sophomore at Mater Dei.